Newport's own "Glee" Group Sings and Serves

The Madrigal Singers opened the performance

Salve Regina's Madrigal Singers wore two metaphorical hats on a recent Cabaret Evening held at Ochre Court, where they sang – everything from classical madrigals to Broadway show tunes to Haitian folk/rock – then took turns serving an excellent sit-down dinner to their parents and friends.

The exuberance and high spirits at the event were immediately evident: the young performers were nervous and excited, Director Don St. Jean was unruffled, and guest singer Mark L'Ocean from Haiti gave two rocking guitar and vocal renditions in Haitian French and English that had everyone applauding.

Ben Mead, who had served as our very fine maitre d', performed "La Javanaise", which was a very Charles Aznavour-type French lament.

Accompanist Melissa Woolverton

Newport Seen sat with Vice President of Academic Affairs Dean de la Motte, who was planning the opening of the French Film Festival, and Peter Davis, Department Head of Performing Arts and Chair Professional Musician in Residence and wife Julie Williams Davis, who were delighted with the musical dinner.

The very joy of the event was in its unexpected musical assortment: from a show-stopping rendition of "I Hate Men" by Rachel Velardi, to a doo-doo-doo musical arrangement of "Over the Rainbow", the selections were simply fun and infectious.

At the end of the evening, the entire group sang a moving "Edelweiss". The evening's piano accompaniments were ably played by Dave D'Amico, Matt Hagerty, Melissa Woolverton, and Mr. St. Jean.